Variable performance electric generator

ABSTRACT

Described is a large, thin frame gas cooled electric generator for power generation, having a gas cooled rotor arranged along a centerline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; a support frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; a pressurizing system that variably pressurizes the cooling medium to a maximum pressure of one bar relative to atmospheric pressure; and a pressure boundary member that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured to operatively contain an internal cooling medium pressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY AND CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application claims benefit and priority to U.S. provisionalapplication 62/105,798 filed on Jan. 21, 2015 and is incorporated hereinin its entirety. Furthermore, this application is related toapplication's 14/938,330; 14/938,342; 14/938,364 and 14/938,382 filedconcurrently.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to high voltage power generation equipmentand, more particularly, to a system and method of achieving variableperformance of an electrical generator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dynamoelectric high-voltage machines and/or high-voltage systems, suchas electrical generators in power plants, represent a substantialcapital investment. Furthermore, it is desirable to avoid over-sizing interms of the performance capability of the generator.

Due to the serious technical issues presented to the power generationindustry due to part-load and varying-load operation, there is asignificant need for a simple, low cost generator with a variablemaximum efficiency/variable maximum out-put as well as a generator withreduced winding insulation thermal stresses and greater winding life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect is a large, thin frame gas cooled electric generator forpower generation, including a gas cooled rotor arranged along acenterline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially andsurrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; asupport frame arranged to fixedly support the core and rotationallysupport the rotor; a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gaswithin the generator; a pressurizing system that variably pressurizesthe cooling medium to a maximum pressure of one bar relative toatmospheric pressure; and a pressure boundary member that surrounds aplurality of the rotor and an entirety of the core and stator windings,the frame configured to operatively contain an internal cooling mediumpressure of 2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.

A further aspect is includes the pressure boundary member configured asa thin walled frame.

A further aspect includes the pressure boundary member configured as ametallic thin walled frame.

A further aspect includes the pressure boundary member as a film.

A further aspect includes the pressure boundary member configured as afilm selected from the list comprising polymer, metallic orpolymer/metallic composite.

A further aspect includes the pressure boundary member configured as afabric.

A further aspect includes the pressure boundary member configured as afabric selected from the list comprising polymer, metallic orpolymer/metallic composite.

A further aspect includes the gas cooling system is configured to onlycool the rotor and core.

A further aspect includes the cooling gas as non-explosive gas.

Another aspect is large electric generator for power generationincluding a gas cooled rotor arranged along a centerline of thegenerator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially and surrounding therotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; a support framearranged to fixedly support the core and rotationally support the rotor;a gas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator;a pressurizing system that variably pressurizes the cooling medium to apressure between zero and two bar relative to atmospheric pressure; anda low pressure frame that surrounds a plurality of the rotor and anentirety of the core and stator windings, the frame configured tooperatively contain an internal cooling medium pressure of 2 barrelative to atmospheric pressure.

A further aspect includes the low pressure frame constructed from thinmetallic plate material of a thickness between 5 mm and 15 mm.

A further aspect includes the pressure boundary member is a film.

A further aspect includes the low pressure frame is configured as apolymer, metallic or polymer/metallic composite film.

A further aspect includes the low pressure frame is a fabric.

A further aspect includes the low pressure frame is a polymer, metallicor polymer/metallic composite fabric.

A further aspect includes the gas cooling system is configured todirectly cool the rotor and core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that thepresent invention will be better understood from the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing Figures, inwhich like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a gas cooled generator system, cooling gas pressurizingunit and associated control system;

FIG. 2 is depicts a stator core and a winding coil residing within thecore;

FIG. 3 depicts an insulated coil;

FIG. 4 depicts an end view of coil showing the conductors;

FIG. 5 depicts various coil thermal responses due to a step change ingenerator load; and

FIG. 6 depicts comparison of efficiency vs. load for equivalent ratedgenerators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration, and not by way oflimitation of the embodiment. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Currently, an electrical generator is configured or sized for therequired maximum power output (MVA) which represents a particularphysical configuration of the generator and an associated operatingefficiency and cost to manufacture. However, modern power plants now seegreater variation in required power output demand from the grid andassociated operating conditions. In particular, one common variationmodern power plants are experiencing is the requirement to operate atpart-load conditions. For example, within the United States, generatorsdo not typically operate at full load, rated power factor conditions.Instead, these generators typically operate approximately 80% of fullload and at a variety of power factors. Part-load conditions can be anyoperating condition less than 100% power output. However, part-loadoperation typically is within the range of 20%-80% of maximum poweroutput. Additionally, part-load conditions may be more specifically60%-80% of maximum power output.

Furthermore, the state of the art of electric generator technologyrepresents three primary configurations for cooling the generator rotorand stator, i) air cooling for both the rotor and stator, ii) hydrogencooling for both the rotor and stator, and iii) water cooling for thestator coils and hydrogen cooling for the rotor and stator core. Aircooled electric generators are lower cost and mechanically less complexthan hydrogen cooling and/or the combination of hydrogen and watercooling.

Advances in power plant prime mover power output capability have led toa demand for generator ratings that extend beyond the current capabilityof low-cost, conventional air-cooled units. Conventional air-cooleddesigns in the industry have generally been limited to approximately 350MVA.

Typically, for applications above 350 MVA, a pressurized hydrogen-cooledgenerator is required. Although hydrogen is an excellent coolant,hydrogen-cooled generators are inherently more complex, more expensiveto build and more expensive to operate than air-cooled generators due tothe need to (i) prevent the mixing of hydrogen and air (i.e. complicatedand expensive sealing systems and operating procedures) and (ii) theneed to contain a potential hydrogen explosion within the generator (avery robust pressure vessel frame capable of containing the explosionpressure).

Furthermore, with the typical gas-cooled (air or hydrogen) generator,the cooling gas circuit is designed for 100% power output of thegenerator. However, when operating at part-load, the generator is notproducing full power but the windage losses from the cooling gas circuitremain constant. Therefore, the generator and the power plant areoperating at sub-optimal efficiency.

In addition to part-load operation, another common variation modernpower plants are experiencing is the requirement to change loadfrequently. An issue associated with varying-load operation of thegenerator is large variations in operating temperatures of the statorand rotor windings due to the variations in power output to match theoperational load demand. The variations in operating temperatures of thewindings results in excessive thermal stress cycles of the windingcomponents and premature aging of the insulation materials due to thechange from one operating state of the generator to another, see FIG. 5.

Heat from traditional gas cooled generators is removed throughconvective heat transfer from the generator active components to thecooling gas. In the most simplistic terms, heat is primarily removedfrom generator components via convective heat transfer which is definedby:Q=m*Cp*dTg.   Eq. (1), andQ=h*A*dTs, where h is f(m, k)   Eq. (2)

As can be seen by examination of Eq. (1) above, heat to be removed fromthe generator (Q) can be increased by increasing cooling gas mass flowrate (m), cooling gas specific heat (Cp), and/or the cooling gastemperature rise along the flow-path (dTg). Eq. (2) shows that Q canalso be increased by increasing the heat transfer coefficient (h) aswell as the temperature differential between the component temperatureand the cooling gas (dTs). Furthermore, the heat transfer coefficient isa direct function of m and gas thermal conductivity (k). Heat transfercan also be increased by increasing the surface area (A) of thecomponent to be cooled, but this is typically constrained by otherdesign criteria. Increasing the cooling gas pressure from 0 to 1 bargage effectively doubles m and therefore the cooling capacity of thegas. The dTs is typically limited by the material properties used in theconstruction of the generator components. However, dTs is generallymaximized while meeting design requirements such as low and high cyclefatigue life and acceptable thermal stresses. The Cp and k are dependenton the selected cooling gas chemistry. Typically, Cp and k are greaterfor lighter gases like hydrogen or helium, and less for heavy gases suchas air, molecular nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Historically, generatordesigns have tried to optimize heat removal through the optimalselection of Cp and k of the cooling gas along with the cooling gasdensity by determining a fixed operating gas pressure.

It can be observed that the largest benefit from pressurization occursfrom 0 bar gauge to 1 bar gauge pressure, i.e. a doubling of cooling gaspressure results in a doubling of the heat transfer capacity of thecooling gas. Increased benefit due to higher pressurization diminishesas the cooling gas pressure increases above 1 bar gauge pressure.However, further pressurization to approximately 2 bar gauge pressuremay still provide acceptable heat transfer and performance gains.

However, the drawback of increased pressurization is increased fluidpumping losses (known as windage) due to the increased density of thecooling gas.

The positive and negative impacts of cooling gas pressurization must bebalanced to obtain an optimal configuration. Gas pressurizationincreases heat removal capacity, but also increases the heat generationthrough windage/friction and therefore reduces efficiency of thegenerator.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment provides a gas cooled generator 1.The generator 1 includes a rotor 2 arranged along a centerline 3 of thegenerator 1. The generator further includes a stator core 5 arrangedcoaxially with the rotor 2 and at least partially surrounds the rotor 2.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stator core 5 supports a pluralityof electrical conducting coils 100. The plurality of coils 100 arecommonly known within the power generation industry as windings 6. Thecoil 100 typically consist of electrical conductors 103 surrounded byelectrical insulation 101 to electrically isolate the electricalconductors from the stator core 5 and other surrounding components ofthe generator 1. One of ordinary skill in the art of electricalgenerator design can readily appreciate that there are several commonschemes for cooling the windings 6.

For example, as can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, coil 100 can be cooledindirectly by conductive heat transfer to the stator core 5. That is,the winding 6 is not cooled directly by a cooling medium. Rather, theheat generated within the coil 100 due to operation is conducted to thestator core 5 and the stator core 5 is then cooled by a cooling medium.

In a further example, and as can be seen in FIG. 4, another means ofcooling the coil 100 is direct cooling, where cooling passages 102 areformed within or adjacent to the coil 100 itself. The cooling passages102 can be formed integrally with and as an electrical conductor 103 orthe cooling passages 102 can be formed discretely from the electricalconductor 103 as a separate component.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the embodiment further provides a lowpressure pressurizing unit 7 configured to vary an operating pressure ofa non-explosive cooling gas 10 typically between atmospheric pressure (0bar gauge) and 1 to 2 bar above atmospheric (1 to 2 bar gauge) asdetermined by control system 21. The pressurizing unit 7 may incorporatea compressor to pressurize the cooling gas, a pressure reservoir tostore a large volume of compressed gas to facilitate the rapidpressurization of the generator 1 as determined by the control system21, and an adjusting device 8 where the adjusting device 8 may be acontrol valve. Furthermore, the compressor could be a standalone deviceor could be represented an extraction of compressed gas from anotherdevice like a gas turbine compressor or steam turbine. The controlsystem 21 continuously senses a state of the power output of thegenerator to the electrical grid 22. The control system 21 may sense theload on the generator 1 from typical control room signals, for example,such as terminal voltage, phase current demand, and power factor. Thecontrol system 21 then compares the sensed generator output signal 22 tothe load demand of the generator 1 and determines an optimum pressure ofthe cooling gas 10 based on a predetermined control scheme. Once theoptimum pressure of the cooling gas 10 is determined by the controlsystem 21 in conjunction with the predetermined scheme, a control signal23 is generated by the control system 21 and transmitted to thepressurizing unit 7. The pressurizing unit 7 then adjusts the operatingpressure of the cooling gas 10 in accordance with the control signal 23.The pressure control scheme can be customized to maximize generatorefficiency.

A further aspect may utilize liquid cooling of the stator coil 100 toprovide additional operational flexibility, improved efficiency andreliability of the coil 100, see FIGS. 4 and 5. The combination ofdirect liquid cooling of the stator coils 100 with low pressurenon-explosive gas cooling of the stator core 5 and the rotor 2 resultsin greater operational flexibility and efficiency of the generator 1.Liquid cooling of the stator coils 100 eliminates the heat load from thestator coils 100 on the cooling gas 10 which thereby reduces the heatdemand on the overall cooling gas system (i.e. cooling unit 9, coolinggas 10, blower 11 and pressurizing unit 7). Therefore, the losses due tothe gas cooling system can be minimized.

Additionally, the control system 21 may further control the pressurizingunit 7 along with the liquid cooling of the stator coils 100 to regulatethe generator component temperatures in accordance with thepredetermined scheme to minimize thermally induced stresses of thevarious components like the stator coils 100 and rotor 2, so as tomaximize the life of the low pressure non-explosive gas generator 1 inenvironments where load cycling is excessive, see FIG. 5.

A further aspect utilizes a pressure boundary member 4 to contain thepressure of the cooling gas 10. The pressure boundary member 4 may beformed as a frame from thin plate material or as a semi-flexiblepressure containment device formed from film or fabric, all of which maybe made from a polymer, metallic or composite materials of sufficientconstruction to withstand the operating environment of the generator,i.e. temperature, pressure, vibration and environmental considerations.Typically, metallic thin plate material utilized for the low pressureframe or pressure boundary member 4 may be between approximately 5 mmand 15 mm thick and film or fabric may be between approximately 1 mm and5 mm thick. Typical hydrogen cooled generators have much thicker steelwalled frames due to the fact that the hydrogen cooling gas pressure istypically 3 to 5 bar gauge pressure, as well as the frame must be strongenough to contain the internal pressure due to an explosion of thehydrogen cooling gas. In order for the typical hydrogen cooled generatorframe to contain the pressure for an internal explosion of hydrogencooling gas, the frame walls are typically approximately 19 mm to 51 mmthick. The present frame or pressure boundary 4 is intended only towithstand the relatively low pressure of 1 to 2 bar gauge pressure anddue to the non-explosive nature of the cooling gas; the frame 4 does nothave to contain explosion pressures. Therefore, the low pressure frameneed 4 only be sized and configured to meet the operating conditions ofa non-explosive cooling gas low pressure generator and not the explosionpressures resulting in a structurally thinner frame or pressure boundarymember 4.

Additionally, through the benefit of low pressure gas cooling to amaximum of 1 to 2 bar gauge pressure, the entire generator can be sizedmuch smaller than an equivalent output traditional air cooled generator.For example, the present low pressure non-explosive gas generator 1 canbe smaller in physical size than present air cooled generators by 10 to35%. Preferably, the present low pressure non-explosive gas generator 1could be 35% smaller in physical size than a typical air cooledgenerator, or alternatively, the present low pressure non-explosive gasgenerator 1 could achieve a 50% to 60% increase in power output comparedto a typical air cooled generator of the same size or physicaldimensions.

Furthermore, if the power output demands of the generator exceed thepower output limits of the generator 1, the cooling gas pressure can bequickly and easily increased up to 1 bar gauge pressure and furthermoreto a maximum of 2 bar gauge pressure for additional generator poweroutput capacity. For example, by varying gas pressure between 0 and 1bar gauge, an increase of approximately 50% of additional power outputcapability with no other modification required to the generator 1, seeFIG. 6.

Furthermore, the cooling system of the low pressure non-explosive gasgenerator 1 is physically smaller than that of a typical air cooledgenerator due to the combination of pressurized air cooling and awater-cooled stator winding. Therefore, the windage losses for the lowpressure non-explosive gas generator 1 are greatly reduced as comparedto an equivalent power output traditional air cooled generator. At poweroutputs less than 100% rated output, the cooling gas pressure of the lowpressure non-explosive gas generator 1 can be reduced to obtain theoverall efficiencies that improve at partial load, see FIG. 6.

In a further aspect, the low pressure non-explosive gas generator 1 mayutilize alternate gasses as the cooling medium. Such gases are listed inTable 1 below.

TABLE 1 Refrigerant Number Name — Air R-704 Helium R-702 Hydrogen R-720Neon R-728 Nitrogen R-740 Argon R-134a Tetrafluoroethane R-152aDifluoroethane R-717 Ammonia R-744 Carbon Dioxide

Additionally, the gasses identified in Table 1 may also be mixed invarious combinations to provide specific performance characteristics.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A large, thin frame gas cooled electric generatorfor power generation, comprising: a gas cooled rotor arranged along acenterline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially andsurrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; agas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; apressurizing system that variably pressurizes the cooling gas to amaximum pressure of one bar relative to atmospheric pressure; and apressure boundary member that surrounds a portion of the rotor and anentirety of the core and stator windings, the pressure boundary memberconfigured to operatively contain an internal cooling medium pressure of2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure, wherein the pressurizing systemfurther comprises a control system and a pressurizing unit operativelyconnected to the control system, wherein the control system isconfigured to sense a load of the generator and to compare the sensedload to a load demand of the generator and to determine an optimumoperating pressure of the cooling gas, wherein the pressurizing unit isconfigured to adjust an operating pressure of the cooling gas inaccordance with the determined optimum operating pressure, and whereinthe pressure boundary member is configured as a thin walled frame. 2.The generator of claim 1, wherein the pressure boundary member isconfigured as a metallic thin walled frame.
 3. The generator of claim 1,wherein the pressure boundary member is a film.
 4. The generator ofclaim 3, wherein the pressure boundary member is configured as a filmselected from the list comprising polymer, metallic or polymer/metalliccomposite.
 5. The generator of claim 1, wherein the pressure boundarymember is configured as a fabric.
 6. The generator of claim 5, whereinthe pressure boundary member is configured as a fabric selected from thelist comprising polymer, metallic or polymer/metallic composite.
 7. Thegenerator of claim 1, wherein the gas cooling system is configured toonly cool the rotor and core.
 8. The generator of claim 1, wherein thecooling gas is a non-explosive gas.
 9. A large electric generator forpower generation, comprising: a gas cooled rotor arranged along acenterline of the generator; a gas cooled core arranged coaxially andsurrounding the rotor; a plurality of coils arranged within the core; agas cooling system that circulates a cooling gas within the generator; apressurizing system that variably pressurizes the cooling gas to apressure between zero and two bar relative to atmospheric pressure; alow pressure frame that surrounds a portion of the rotor and an entiretyof the core and stator windings, the low pressure frame configured tooperatively contain an internal cooling medium pressure of 2 barrelative to atmospheric pressure; wherein the pressurizing systemfurther comprises a control system and a pressurizing unit operativelyconnected to the control system, wherein the control system isconfigured to sense a load of the generator and to compare the sensedload to a load demand of the generator and to determine an optimumoperating pressure of the cooling gas, wherein the pressurizing unit isconfigured to adjust an operating pressure of the cooling gas inaccordance with the determined optimum operating pressure, and whereinthe low pressure frame is constructed from thin metallic plate materialof a thickness between 5 mm and 15 mm.
 10. The generator of claim 9,wherein the pressure boundary member is a film.
 11. The generator ofclaim 10, wherein the low pressure frame is configured as a polymer,metallic or polymer/metallic composite film.
 12. The generator of claim9, wherein the low pressure frame is a fabric.
 13. The generator ofclaim 12, wherein the low pressure frame is a polymer, metallic orpolymer/metallic composite fabric.
 14. The generator of claim 9, whereinthe gas cooling system is configured to directly cool the rotor andcore.
 15. A method for operating an electric generator, wherein thegenerator comprises a rotor arranged along a centerline of thegenerator, a core arranged coaxially and surrounding the rotor and aplurality of coils arranged within the core, the method comprising:circulating a cooling gas within the generator by a gas cooling system;operatively containing an internal cooling medium pressure of 2 barrelative to atmospheric pressure by a pressure boundary member thatsurrounds a portion of the rotor and an entirety of the core and statorwindings; sensing a load of the generator and comparing the sensed loadto a load demand of the generator and determining an optimum operatingpressure of the cooling gas by a control system; and adjusting anoperating pressure of the cooling gas in accordance with the determinedoptimum operating pressure by a pressurizing system, wherein thepressure boundary member is configured as a thin walled frame.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the optimum operating pressure of thecooling gas is determined based on a predetermined pressure controlscheme.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined pressurecontrol scheme is customized to maximize an efficiency of the generator.